This April 21, 2013 staff file photo shows Estavan Serrano, of Alhambra, taking a break at Alvardo and 7th streets in downtown Los Angeles during CicLAvia, an event where streets are closed off to vehicles.

From Wilmington to San Pedro, a swath of some of the area’s most heavily traveled streets will be closed to traffic for a good chunk of Sunday, inviting people instead to bike, walk or skate — or even dance, if you’re feeling especially inspired — through town.

The CicLAvia event has a few business owners scrambling this week, saying they would have liked to have been included in the logistical planning.

But while sure to cause disruption — among the closures planned from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. will be Harbor Boulevard on what is Ports O’ Call’s busiest day of the week — CicLAvia has been hailed as a success when held in other areas of the city. This is the first time CicLAvia is coming to the Harbor Area.

“The number of people who ride in these things really do get to experience the town in a completely different light, so it’s actually pretty cool,” said Lorena Parker, director of the downtown-waterfront Business Improvement District in San Pedro.

The 7-mile “Wilmington Meet San Pedro” CicLAvia route starts at Banning Park in Wilmington and travels south along Avalon Boulevard, turning west at C Street to link to John S. Gibson Boulevard heading into San Pedro and then to Harbor Boulevard, Fifth Street and Pacific Avenue, ending at 22nd Street.

There are no strict rules, however, so participants can start or stop anywhere along the course they like. Rest and water stations will be set up along the route and cars will be allowed to cross the impacted streets from Anaheim Street, Ninth Street and 19th Street.

‘Chill’ in San Pedro

Temperatures are expected to hit about 80 that day, so participants will be looking for some shade and refreshment, Parker said.

A “chill event” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. will be sponsored by the San Pedro BID at the city parking lot on the east side of Mesa Street between Fifth and Sixth streets.

Shaded areas, free water, an ice cream truck, children’s face painting, balloons and a visitor information both will be available. There also will be a bike valet service — so people can leave their bikes in a secure area while they hop the trolley or walk around to explore the downtown or waterfront. A strolling jazz band will provide entertainment, restaurants will be open for lunch and other businesses are expected to offer coupons and other incentives to bring people back to the area.

Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Wilmington and The Anchor Calvary Chapel San Pedro are among churches that have had to get the word out to their flocks who may find driving to church on Sunday a bit more challenging than usual.

Jerry Cesario, pastor of Calvary Chapel, said his church will participate in CicLAvia by sponsoring a booth along the route.

Dan Hoffman, executive director of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, said CicLAvia, a 6-year-old Metro-affiliated offshoot movement dedicated to building community within the vast city of Los Angeles, provides an opportunity for businesses to be showcased.

Businesses wanted more buy-in

One Wilmington maritime-related industrial business owner, however, said the route will force their shop to take a day off. While normally closed on Sunday anyway, the shop owners often use the day to provide service on more complicated jobs.

And Michael Ungaro, of the San Pedro Fish Market in Ports O’ Call Village said they’re trying to get the word out to the restaurant’s huge customer base via emails and social media. Many travel from out of the area for Sunday visits at the popular outdoor market on San Pedro’s waterfront.

CicLAvia will close the Harbor Boulevard exit from the Vincent Thomas Bridge and 110 Freeway, forcing all incoming traffic to enter town on Gaffey Street. From there, they’ll have to drive south to 22nd Street and turn east to enter Ports O’ Call from the rear entrance.

San Pedro dog park users also will have to walk their dogs there on Sunday as the only vehicle entrance to the off-leash facility’s parking lot is off Harbor, which will be closed, near Swinford Street.

‘We hope it works’

Harbor Boulevard is reliably packed every weekend with crowds flowing in and out of Ports O’ Call. The San Pedro Fish Market is the village’s biggest draw.

“In the last six days we’ve served over 32,000 people,” Ungaro said Monday. “Most of (our business) is on Sunday and Saturday, so I would say we’ll have at least 12,000 to 15,000 people coming through Sunday. We hope it works.”

While he’s heard good things about CicLAvia events, Ungaro said it would have helped had they been included in the planning.

“I hope it’s a successful event and I don’t wish it any ill will,” he said. “It’s just that every time they have these events, please call us in so we can have a seat at the table and help coordinate it.”

Donna Littlejohn has covered the Harbor Area as a reporter since 1981. Along with development, politics, coyotes, battleships and crime, she writes features that have spotlighted an array of topics, from an alligator on the loose in a city park to the modern-day cowboys who own the trails on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. She loves border collies and Aussie dogs, cats, early California Craftsman architecture and most surviving old stuff. She imagines the 1970s redevelopment sweep that leveled so much of San Pedro's historic waterfront district as very sad.

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